Clovis Municipal Schools students earn 13 awards at science fair

February 27, 2010

Freedom New Mexico: Clarence Plank Emma Beaty, 11, of the Arts Academy at Bella Vista in Clovis, looks over her notes while waiting to hear results of the Regional Science and Engineering Fair Saturday at Eastern New Mexico University. Beaty won first place in the Behavioral and Social Sciences junior division and American Association of University Women award junior division.

By Clarence Plank: Freedom New Mexico

Students from Clovis and Portales Municipal Schools competed in the Regional Science and Engineering Fair at Eastern New Mexico University.

Arts Academy at Bella Vista student Emma Beaty, 11, of Portales took an award for her science project studying music effects on children.

“I started thinking one day that it would be nice if teachers could play a CD for kids after recess,” Beaty said. “I put some music on a CD from what I thought was the least pleasant to the most unpleasant.”

Beaty said she hooked the children up to a heart monitor, then focused a video camera on their eyes to see if their pupils dilated in response to the music.

She received a special junior American Association of University Women Award, American Psychological Association certificate and first place in the junior division of Behavioral and Social Sciences.

The junior division is made up of sixth through ninth graders and the senior division is ninth through 12th graders. Ninth graders get to choose which of the two divisions in which they want to compete.

Vaughn Elementary teacher Judy Byrd said she was amazed at the quality of the science projects.

“Three of my sixth graders are here at the science fair so I’m really proud of them,” Byrd said.